san diego pets magazine, april 2012

APRIL 2012 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com2

www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | APRIL 2012 3

PUBLISHER/EDITORCasey Dean

COVER ART Some Like It Shot Photography

www.somelikeitshotphotography.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kendra HartmannMartin Jones Westlin

GUEST WRITERSJohn CarlsonK.R. JohnsonArden MooreJudith PierceLori AlbeeSid Shapira

Stefanie Schwartz, DVMJason Sweitzer, DVM

CARTOONISTBarbara Fuscsick

Puppy Paws Productions

www.puppypawsproductions.com

ADVERTISINGCasey Dean (619) 573-5615

[email protected]

Marjorie “Kirby” (858) [email protected]

San Diego Pets Magazine is published by Dean Publishing,Inc. P.O. Box 601081, San Diego, Ca 92160-1081. No partof this publication may be duplicated or reprinted withoutexpress consent from the publisher. Editors reserve theright to edit all content. Submissions are welcome, andmay be edited for content and clarity. Please forward allunsolicited material to the editor. Views and opinionsexpressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher.The publisher reserves the right to approve or acceptadvertising orders and content. All contents are copyrighted2012. All rights reserved.

San Diego Pets MagazineP.O. BOX 601081San Diego, Ca 92160-1081(619) 573-5615SANDIEGOPETSMAGAZINE.COM

/SanDiegoPets

We thought we wouldsend you a couple of cuteshots of our latest familymember, Nikki, who wastotally enamored with oneof our goldfish, Willy, whenwe brought Nikki home toour downtown condo froma farm in Fresno in August(Nikki was three monthsold). Yep it was love at firstsight. The little farm kittyfell in love with the gold-fish (note the "love" rock inthe fishbowl in the shot)!

Kevin McKay and Mary Grissom

LETTER TO THE EDITOR


Finally, Chance’s life was back on track. The 19-month-oldretriever mix, who’d miraculously bounced back from anear-fatal bullet wound to the torso the morning of Feb.

20, was adopted late last month from the San Diego CountyDepartment of Animal Services shelter in Carlsbad (see page7). Chance reportedly has a way to go in his recovery, but by allaccounts, the department matched him to the best possiblehome, thus ending the latest chapter in one of the area’s mostcompelling news stories of the year.Dave Mason, midday host at XHBCE-FM (105.7, a greatest-

hits station popularly known as The Walrus), took in the infor-mation with a seasoned animal-lover’s perspective, the goodnews fueling a mix of memories within his activist’s track

record. The Jack Russell terrier (now Mason’s dog Jack) foundwandering the streets of La Jolla after the Fourth of July fire-works five years ago; the two dogs kept in a garage for atleast seven years amid the owner’s contempt; the disfiguredmidsection of a canine burn victim: Mason reflects on themwith equal passion. His love of animals is a cause and a calling, his normally

upbeat, cultivated DJ voice halting at the thought of it.“There’s no reason to shoot a dog,” he understated to San

Diego Pets. “There’s no reason to keep two animals locked ina garage. It’s—it’s sad. It’s absolutely heartbreaking. Maybeit’s a dysfunction of what’s going on with society.”But even as Mason bristles at each of the 1,500 animal cru-

B y M A RT I N J O N E S W E S T L I N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

DaveMason’s connectionwithanimals is a two-way street

Dave Mason (left) is a stapleat Helen Woodward AnimalCenter fundraisers, telethonbenefits for the San DiegoHumane Society and theSociety for the Preventionof Cruelty to Animals.

H BdD 5COVER STORY


elty reports that cross humane society desks each year, he takesenormous pride in the happy endings, a good number ofwhich he’s helped engineer. Stories of abuse and rescue come with the turf when you’re

as visible as Mason is. He’s a staple at Helen Woodward Ani-mal Center fundraisers, telethon benefits for the San Diego Hu-mane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals and pet adoption and humane education programstoo numerous to count. He reports that this year’s humane so-ciety telethon, which he hosted on March 17, took in$263,000—that’s not a record, but the money was raised in onlythree hours. Last year’s benefit, which netted just under$200,000, lasted five.Mason is quick to add that the money is a product of an en-

lightened local climate.“San Diego is one of the best, if not the best, [animal care]

cities in the country,” he said. “When you see the [humane so-ciety’s] Gaines Street location, you see that many of the habi-tats are apartment-like, with carpeting and furniture. Thereason for that is that animals can become better accustomedto a home environment as opposed to a kennel environment.Even the animals that need to be quarantined and aren’t readyfor adoption are handled with heat and light and as manycomforts of home as [officials] can think of. “I’ve been involved with the humane society for most of my

time here,” Mason continued. “I’ve seen animals here treatedso much better than I saw when I worked in Pittsburgh, for ex-ample, or all over Allegheny County. The conditions therewere just awful. Just awful.”Mason, 64, also saw time in Rochester, N.Y. (his hometown),

Buffalo, Cincinnati and Binghamton, N.Y. before landing inSan Diego in 1999 at the defunct KJOY-FM. He’s been with TheWalrus since it went on the air in 2008. He lives in ScrippsRanch with his registered-nurse wife Diane and has two sons,Jon, 24, and Adam, 19. Jack the terrier and a bird round out the household—and for

Mason, the animals may be the key to something bigger thanthemselves.“I am thrilled,” he explained, “that my two children, who

have been in a house with animals all their lives, are so com-passionate. The younger one has brought home no less than

three dogs he saw running in traffic. Fortunately, we found theowners for all three. He’ll go out of his way to find an owner.”In fact, Mason said, Adam isn’t that far removed from an in-

stitution in which animals could take on life-changing roles.“There needs to be space for all of us,” Mason continued. “I

think it’s very sad that if someone grows up with the capacityto harm an animal, it’s probably because the person wastreated that way as a child. What I’d like to see done in schoolsis, ‘Here’s how you go through life. You go through life get-ting along with your fellow man and your fellow woman. Andhere’s why animals should be a part of your life.’ If schoolscould take kids and animals and put them together, I thinkwe’d have nowhere near the trouble we have in schools today.”After all, he said, animals are as much an extension of our

personalities as we are of theirs.“When I see a dog or a cat or a kitten or a raccoon or a fox,”

he continued, “I’m just fascinated. Maybe it’s because of thecrummy zoo we had in Rochester back in the ’50s. Or maybeit’s because I’m married to a nurse. I see how she interacts withpeople with all sorts of medical conditions. And I’ve been tothe hospitals. I’ve seen kids 3 and 4 years old walking downthe hallway with IV trees, four and five bottles hanging off thetree. The kids are, ‘Hey; it’s me. Just another day.’ Animals arethe same way in facing adversity, whether it’s the dog who

Dave Mason's animal activism sometimes comes at the expense of hisfreedom. He's shown in this 2004 photo at a benefit at GrossmontCenter, having been locked in a kennel for 36 hours.

SEE MASON, Page 7

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D

was so badly burned or whether it’s Chance. Get ’em up andrunning, and it’s like nothing ever happened.” But something has. For Mason, it started in his Rochester

boyhood when a drunk driver hit and killed an Irish setter inplain view. It continued in Cincinnati when he, “like an idiot,”accidentally let a pet parakeet escape (incredibly, the bird wasfound five miles away). Heartwarmingly, it came full circle asan elderly couple adopted the burn patient. And so it goes for Chance, who’s happily marking his turf in

a brand-new yard. Just as he’s claimed his owners’ hearts,there’s at least one local media figure who has his back. For more on the San Diego Humane Society, see sdhu-

mane.org. For further information on San Diego CountyAnimal Services, visit sddac.com. Visit www.1057thewal-rus.com/mason, for more info on Dave Mason.

North Park family welcomes new memberOn Monday, March 19, San Diego County Animal Services

announced that Chance, whose brush with death held thearea’s attention for several days in late February, has beenadopted by a North Park family—Sean and Adria Cavanaughand their two children, Finn, 6, and Molly, 3. Animal Serviceshad received hundreds of applications for Chance’s adoption,fielding several requests even before it had begun acceptingthem. On the morning of Monday, Feb. 20, Chance was shot

through the torso and left for dead in a state of shock on theside of an East County road. The county’s Department ofAnimal Services rushed the animal to the VAC emergencyanimal hospital in Mission Valley, where luck and quickthinking saved his life. The Cavanaughs were chosen from three finalists and wel-

comed Chance to his new home on Wednesday, March 21.

MASONCONTINUED FROM Page 5

For nearly four years, Honey Bear has been the con-stant companion of San Diego’s Catherine Ro-driguez. They’re never far apart -- they walk

together, relax at home together, accompany each otheron outings, and even travel by plane together. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1999, Ro-

driguez wasn’t getting enough exercise, something thatconcerned her neurologist, Dr. Anchi Wang. Regularexercise is extremely beneficial for Parkinson’s patientsand Dr. Wang recommended to Rodriguez that a dogmight fit the bill. Enter Honey Bear in June 2008. At the time, Honey

Bear, a Great Pyrenees and German shepherd mix, was just two years old. But, shewas a trained service dog.“I’ve always been a dog lover,” said Rodriguez, Ed.D., a retired educator who

taught in area schools for more than 25 years. “From the very first time Iwalked with Honey Bear, I knew it was going to work. She’s the right sizeand she’s just perfect. It made sense for me.”A past president of the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego (PASD),

Rodriguez walks about an hour a day with Honey Bear. In addition, thetwo regularly attend meetings and appointments. Honey Bear ablyassists Rodriguez with presentations to patient groups, state and localgovernment officials, as well as local service groups. Under Rodriguez’s direction, the PASD has developed the Paws for

Parkinson’s™ program designed to pair service dogs withParkinson’s patients. If a person is interested in the program,they can call the PASD and learn about trainers in the area whotrain service dogs for Parkinson’s patients. “Honey Bear sets my gait, so I don’t shuffle any more,” said

Rodriguez. “Her step and mine are in perfect harmony. Mywalking has improved dramatically and I can walk much fur-ther because of Honey Bear.”Research has shown that people with Parkinson’s can benefit

greatly from dog ownership. In addition to offering a manda-tory opportunity for exercise several times a day, the compan-ionship can also alleviate depression, a condition that iscommon in Parkinson’s patients. Moreover, by assisting withday-to-day tasks and helping protect against falls and resultinginjuries, service dogs can help Parkinson’s sufferers maintaintheir independence and stay active. The Paws for Parkinson’s™ program will be on display as

part of the Pet Festival at the annual Parkinson’s Step By Step 5KWalk/Fun Run on Saturday, April 21 at NTC Park at LibertyStation in Point Loma. It’s a great event for the entire family, in-cluding dogs. The event supports a wonderful cause by raising funds for

research and local programs while offering attendees the op-portunity to discover the latest news on caregiving, support,and the benefits of dog ownership.

Paws for Parkinson’sB y S I D S H A P I R A | G U E S T C O L U M N

To register for the Step By Step Walk/Fun Run and to learnmore about the Paws for Parkinson’s™ program, please visit:http://pasd.donorpages.com/stepbystep/ or call the PASD officeat 858-273-6763.


H BdD 5VET Q&A


Dr. Stefanie Schwartzis a board certified vet-erinary behavioristbased in Southern Cal-ifornia. She sees pa-tients at CaliforniaVeterinary Specialists inCarlsbad and at TheVeterinary NeurologyCenter in Tustin, CA. For

more information, please call (949) 342-6644or visit www.veterinarybehavior.org.

Dear Dr. Schwartz,My dog Casey is not well behaved at

events. He likes to pull and lunge atother dogs. Sometimes there is a dog offleash that approaches us; I'm not surewhat to do. Do you think I should justavoid the situation and leave Casey athome?

Casey’s Buddy

Dear Casey’s Buddy,Crowds are stressful for everyone.

Some people avoid crowds (and I amone of them I must admit). We becomehypervigilant during times of stress; Ihave no doubt that dogs do too. Itsounds to me like Casey becomes de-fensive in these situations. He may bedefending you, or himself, or both. Ifyou think he isn’t having fun, and youdon’t seem to enjoy restraining him atthese events, it might be better to leavehim at home. The question becomesdoes he need to be there, or do youneed him to be there? Bottom line isthis: whatever is best for Casey has tobe best for you.

Dear Dr. Schwartz,We have 6 cats and live in a 2 bed-

room condo. We are also expecting toadopt a baby in the next year or so.

Since we introduced Bonkers (cat #6)last year, things have been more com-plicated. He keeps going after our old-est cat Whiskers, who is a timid andsolitary cat. We think he’s playing be-cause he chirrs at her and no one is get-ting hurt, but she definitely doesn’tenjoy it and we’re losing sleep. Whatshould we do?

Going Bonkers

Dear Going Bonkers,That’s a whole lot of kitties in a small

space. High population density meansmore tension and less places to getaway from each other. Try creatingmore vertical space with cat trees andshelving. Keep Bonkers busy with

more play time and keep one of themconfined at night so you can all getmore rest. Meanwhile, start shoppingfor a larger home ASAP. It will be betterfor everyone to get used to a new homebefore a new child arrives!

Behavior Bytes

Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, MSc, DACVBVeterinary Behavior [email protected]

Reality RallyWho will let the Dogs out and the

snakes out and the horses out……Reality Rally Temecula Valley will

on April 14th all day at the TemeculaCity Hall.Reality Rally is a weekend of “Fun

for Funds” raising money for Michelle’sPlace, breast cancer resource center inTemecula that provides low cost and nocost services to women who are fight-ing the battle for their lives. Join us allweekend and help us in that fight.Reality Rally is bringing 100 Reality

TV Stars to Temecula to meet the publicfor autographs. We want something forpeople with many interests so we havethe So Cal Surf Dogs and Chopper tomeet the public and do Pawtographs.!!!In addition we have Snakes on TVwhich includes a 21ft python who was

on Big Brother and a 8 snake reptile pet-ting zoo. We also have 2 horses whowill tell us what our true personalityis….no we don’t have Mr Ed but close. The weekend is packed full of fun

and activities to suit any interest. Win-ery Parties, Golf and Amazing Racetype game and 31 things to do for free.We will also honor our Military with afamily photo booth. Free to Militaryfamilies and a small donation for allother families. Check it all out anddon’t miss this amazing weekend.April 13th-15th all over Temecula.www.realityrally.com and “Like” uson Facebook. facebook.com/reali-tyrally Questions email [email protected]

In Home Pet Hospice CareNow Offered at MohnackyAnimal Hospital’s Mohnacky Animal Hospitals ex-

pands offering to include In-HomeHospice and Euthanasia. Our servicesnow include customized home-carededicated to address and assist withEnd–of–Life care for our patients. Ourofferings consist of Quality of Life Con-sultations, In-Home Hospice Care, In-House Euthanasia and Post-LossEmotional Care for the family.“Our veterinarians can help inform

the decision to choose between ever in-tensifying medical treatment, hospicecare or euthanasia” says Dr. Craig J.Mohnacky, owner and CEO. Dr.Mohnacky continues to add, “We willwork with each pet’s owner to exploreall the options and their consequences –ethical, medical and financial - as a partof the decision making process. Hos-pice care can provide the family moretime with their ill pet and help the fam-ily adjust to the pet’s approachingdeath”. Dr. Mohnacky concludes that“Hospice can allow the pet to enjoy thelast days of life in familiar surround-ings in the company of loved ones.”Our customized care options help

transition patients from standard topalliative to hospice care. Hospice be-gins at diagnosis and offers a combina-tion of standard, palliative and hospicecare options for life-limiting diseases byfocusing on pain management and

H BdD 5 PET PRESS


See ad on page 26

H BdD 5PET PRESS


minimizing the impact of adverse events.“The ability to expand the owner’s

choices for End-of-Life for their pet wasthe motivation behind developing thisunique offering” says Dr. Mohnacky.“Our industry has generally overlookedthis option and we wanted to fill that gapand be a resource to our clients whenthey may need us the most” Dr.Mohnacky added.Mohnacky Animal Hospitals has three

convenient locations, Carlsbad, Vista andEscondido.In-Home Hospice Care is being man-

aged exclusively out of the Vista location.For more information please contactVista at (760)-758-8004 or visit their web-site at www.mohnackyvet.com.

Ray was found by a Good Samaritanand brought to the San Diego Humane So-ciety’s North Campus last fall. Initially, theyear-old Chihuahua was extremely fearfulof strange noises and being handled.Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the SanDiego Humane Society’s Behavior & Train-ing team, the timid Ray was able to blos-som into a very friendly flower. Today, Ray is known as Mr. Huggins,

and his new family absolutely adores him.“Mr. Huggins is a wonderful companionand a great addition to our small family.Without the trainer’s guidance, I wouldn’thave a good dog who loves to give kissesand show lots of love.”

About the San Diego Humane Society & SPCAThe Humane Society offers San Diegans awide range of programs and services thatstrengthen the human-animal bond, preventcruelty/neglect, provide medical care andeducate the community on the humanetreatment of animals. More informations atwww.sdhumane.org

Ray

HAPPILYEVERADOPTEDSTORIES

The art ofJim Bates“A dog’s eyes are compelling to

me,” says watercolor artist, Jim Bates.That’s where he starts to capture theanimal’s personality. “Some dogs aremore difficult to paint than others,”Bates says. “For instance, an almostwhite dog will have subtle shades ofother colors in its fur. I look for thoseoften pale blue, yellow or pink hues. Ablack dog’s coat absorbs color, so itsshape–the contours and muscles–show up as blue or purple.” But if thedog’s eyes are “perfect”, regardless ofthe coat color, the animal comes to lifeon the paper. A commission of a wiry mixed breed

he painted early on became the basisfor art demonstrations at the San DiegoCounty Fair. “I had fun with that dog,”he says. “I changed its color from yel-low and gold, to brown, to white. Iadded sunglasses, a baseball cap.” Heconfesses he painted the dog so fre-quently during the demonstrations hecould complete a painting in thirtyminutes. “Little kids watching mework were fascinated. I loved givingthe paintings away to the ones hangingaround to see the painting finished.” His dog paintings have won a lot of

awards. “Tango and Ginger”, a paint-ing of Bates’ own Labs earned hisfirst ribbon at the San Diego CountyFair in 2004. “Black Lab in Water”,won in 2009, followed by “YellowLab” in 2011. “My style is representational, and

dogs are not the only subjects I paint,”he says. Bates uses only three primarycolors applied in translucent layers ofwatercolor glazes to get the bold colorsin his work. “For me, the planned andfrequently accidental experience of mix-ing water with pigment is spiritual.” Bates’ portrait commission offer is

simple. “If the owner doesn’t like thework, there’s no charge and I keep thepainting.” He works from the owner’s

photos and photos he takes of the dog.“I like to meet the dog to see its ex-pressions and body language.” Portraitsizes range from 12” x 12” to 20” x 25”.Jim Bates studied art and graphic

design at the Art Center College ofDesign in Los Angeles. His paintings areexhibited in galleries and showsthroughout the West, and are in privatecollections in Europe and theUnited States. Bates lives in Fall-brook, California with his wife, andLab mix Mika.Jim's next show is: April 28-29, MissionFederal ArtWalk, Booth 582 on Date Street,Little Italy, San Diego. See his portfolio athttp://jimbateswatercolor.com



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www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com | MARCH 2012 17

Showing true love for your petcan be as easy as A-B-C. I’m nottalking about the alphabet, but

rather these life-saving acronyms: air-way, breathing, circulation. That’swhy I encourage you to enroll in a petfirst-aid/CPR class – for your pet’ssake. April is National Pet First AidAwareness Month.Ask yourself: If your cat suddenly

started choking, would you know whatto do? If your dog suddenly collapsed,would you know how to revive hisbreathing? In emergency situations,every minute counts. One of the mostimportant ways to show how muchyou care for your pet is by being trainedin pet first aid.That’s what motivated me to become

a certified instructor in pet first aid,CPR and safety. The intensive, three-day, hands-on training program wastaught by Pet Tech, the internationallyrecognized leader in pet CPR, first aidand care training. Less than one week after graduation,

I had to put my safety skills to the test.Chipper, my 60-pound Golden re-triever-Husky, excitedly raced to thefront door to greet one of my friends.Somehow, Chipper’s back right footgot caught in the rug. Her fast move-ment caused her to rip off one of herback nails. I heard a yelp and saw Chipper limp-

ing my way with a trail of blood on my

white tile. Quickly, I grabbed my petfirst aid kit. We placed Chipper on herside and my friend kept her from wig-gling. I elevated Chipper’s right backleg above her heart and placed onehand on her pressure point to slow thespewing blood. I then placed gauzepads on her wound. After the fourthgauze pad, the bleeding had stopped. Iwrapped her foot and contacted myveterinary clinic to alert them we wereon our way. My quick action made this situation

from becoming worse and the veteri-narian praised me for my bandage-wrapping skills. Chipper’s foot wasexamined, re-wrapped. To hasten herrecovery, she received pain medicationsand antibiotics.Thom Somes, the Pet Tech founder

who is known as “The Pet Safety Guy,”has dedicated his life to saving pets’lives. This Carlsbad resident is on amission to improve those odds. Heteaches people not only how to react topet emergencies, but how to be proac-tive to keep pets out of harm’s way.

Consider these pet safety tips:• Safeguard your pet from a surpris-

ing poison. Xylitol is an artificial sweet-ener found in sugar-free gum. Curiouscanines who snatch gum from a purseor off a counter can become quite ill –and even die – if not given immediateveterinary care. Treat your gum like

household cleaners and keep it out ofpaw’s reach. • Create two kits: pet first aid and pet

disaster preparedness. Keep these kitsin your home or garage. I also keep asmall pet first aid kit in my car – alongwith spare leashes, collars, bottledwater and a bath towel. Store pet carri-ers that you can quickly grab shouldyou receive orders to evacuate in caseof a fire or earthquake. • Dial “S” for safety. Make sure your

cell phone contains the phone num-bers for your veterinarian, emergencyvet clinic, pet-welcoming hotels,boarding centers and other key petcontacts. Also have a photo of your peton your phone so you can show it incase your pet gets lost. • Post it on your fridge. Create a

document that contains info on eachpet, their medical needs, tempera-ments, names of contacts (veterinaryclinic, friends willing to help yourpets) along with each pet’s photo. Putthis in a sealed envelope and taped toyour refrigerator door with the words:Pet Emergency Care Info. Also postthe phone number for the ASPCA An-imal Poison Control Center – 888-426-4435 – on your fridge door.I hope that I never have to perform

CPR on my pets, but I feel better able toact should an emergency occur. I en-courage you to enroll in a pet safety andwellness course taught by a Pet Tech-trained instructor or through the Amer-ican Red Cross. We love and adore ourpets. Each time I come home, I hug mydogs, Chipper and Cleo and my cats,Zeki and Murphy. They respond withsloppy kisses and purrs. When youknow pet first-aid, delivering TLC toyour pets is as easy as A-B-C.

Founder of Four LeggedLife.com and creator ofNational Dog Party Day,Arden Moore is an ani-mal behavior consultant,best-selling author, pro-fessional speaker andcertified pet first aid in-structor. Tune into her

OhBehave! ShowonPet Life Radio andenroll inher pet first aid classes. For more information,please visitwww.fourleggedlife.com,www.pet-firstaid4u.com andwww.petliferadio.com.

Arden Moore, ACCBC, ADCBCPet trend, behavior and safety [email protected]

Download PetSaver AppGot a smart phone? For $4.99, you can download the PetSaver App thatprovides instant access to pet health and safety with the push of a buttonand the swipe of your finger. Enter the code word: ARDEN.

I’ve written a number of columnsabout my cat Coco and how shecame to me. What I may not have

mentioned is that I have no idea howold she is. Although I feel she is around9 or 10, there is no way for me to know.An 11-year-old cat, or a 10-year-olddog, is approximately 65 in humanyears. But what does it matter? She is ahappy, healthy, sweet-tempered catwho loves to pounce on her catnip micewhen they get a little too rambunctious.But she’s one of the lucky ones. So

many sweet animals are put down sim-ply because they are too old to beadopted out. They are elderly. They arenow disposable.

I hate the word “elderly.” The wordis uttered in the same hushed tone asone might say “cancer” or “braintumor” or “pink-slipped.” Since whendid a person or a pet become elderly

just because they have lived 65-plusyears on this planet? (I’m not makingthis up. It’s the definition.)My mom is 73 and is healthier and

more spirited than I am! She works full-time, she drives all over the place, shedoes not need glasses (where I some-times wear two pair—my regular “see-ing” glasses and then a pair of readersover them; talk about looking ridicu-lous!) and she never needs a doctor. Ifshe does have to have a yearly physi-cal, she takes me with her because theydon’t believe her when she tells themshe is on no medications. And you should hear the conversa-

tions she has with my little Coco-nutwhen she thinks I’m not listening. Talkabout kindred spirits! Oh, she grousesto me about having to occasionally feedCoco when I’m out of town, but theconversation actually goes somethinglike this:MOM: Good morning, Coco.COCO: Mmmrrrroooww.MOM: Are you hungry?COCO: (Loud purring)MOM: Yes, I know Kris abandonedyou. But don’t worry. I’m here to takecare of you. (Sets food down and givesher a scritch under her chin.)COCO: Mmm, no one opens a can oftuna like Grandma!How about we start a free adoption

program of pairing “elderly” pets with“elderly” humans? Think about it –what a win-win proposition. The petsget adopted to wonderful, kind, caringhomes, and the people get the amazinglove and companionship that only afurry friend can give.Adult pets are so much easier to

manage. They are already housebrokenand used to feeding routines and walk-ing routines, and they sleep more thanpuppies and kittens. You get twice thelove for half the work of a muchyounger pet, and for those people with“elderly” issues, this makes openingyour doors to a furry friend that muchmore attractive.Let’s just do it. Forget the numbers

and focus on the love.


Age is only a number, especially for pets!B y K R J O H N S O N | S A N D I E G O P E T S


B y M A R K C A R L S O N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

Luck often plays a role inour lives, and never more sothan when a special animalcomes along.This was the case for Marilyn and

Steve Kahle (pronounced Collie) ofRamona, who own a small winery calledWoof’n Rose. The label tells part of thestory but not all. It hints at the remarkable story of how

a dog, actually several dogs, inspired acouple to find happiness in a vineyard,spurred on by their furry partners.After meeting in college in Missouri in

1968, Marilyn and Steve were marriedthe following year. Marilyn, who goes bythe nickname ‘Woofy’ freely admits tobeing a dog lover.“Steve learned I was an animal lover

because I always petted and played withthem whenever I was around one,”Marilyn said. “He gave me a puppy

for Christmas.” Marilyn’s mother, uponseeing them bringing home the new dog,said to Steve, ‘I was going to tell youabout her and dogs.’”This was Steve’s first clue to what he

could expect in the future.Several other furry friends joined them

over the years, including an AKC regis-tered red dachshund named AnastasiaAlexandra.The Kahles moved to Poway before

buying land in Ramona to raise theirfamily in the 1980s.After a trip to the Napa Valley, the idea

of a vineyard took root, so to speak.“We were just enchanted by the beauty

of the vineyards and decided to trygrowing grapes here,” Steve com-mented. “We just planted some and sureenough, they grew.”Their small vineyard eventually ex-

panded to include Grenache Noir,Cabernet Franc, and Alicante Bouschetgrapes. When asked about how theylearned the business of making wine,Marilyn said, “No matter where wewent we found people willing to help uslearn. There’s really no ‘dog-eat-dog’ inthe winery world,” she chuckled.The family’s dogs played a pivotal

role. The name Woof’n Rose was born

with the first fifty grape plants in 1995.Rebelle, a black Labrador/Cocker

Spaniel mix who looked like a black IrishSetter was a staple of Woof’n Rose.“Rebelle was always down in the

vineyards with me,” Steve said. “Shewas right next to me while I was diggingand planting. She licked my ears or layin the sun.”“She was more a vegetarian than a car-

nivore,” Marilyn observed. “She lovedgrapes, broccoli, green beans, asparagus,whatever. We knew dogs shouldn’t eatgrapes but she never had a problem.”Marilyn’s artwork of Rebelle adorns

their label.“Our son Ehren’s chocolate Labrador

Kona actually helped dig the holes,” shesaid. “He was an old dog. And when hepassed, we put his ashes in the vineyard.”The dogs were part of the land, and on

hand for plantings and harvests. In 1999 came Liberty and Cham-

pagne. “I went into town to pick up

some Liberty Ale. But I came back withtwo puppies,” Marilyn said un-abashedly. “They were sisters, whiteGerman Shepherd and Yellow Labradormixes. I got them from a box in front ofK-Mart. Liberty was more my dog thanSteve’s, and when she died in July of2010, I was very down.”But sometimes salvation comes in

furry packages. “One morning in Sep-tember we were watching the news andat the end of the broadcast they showedthis dog at the Humane Society need-ing a home. We took off and were at theHumane Society before the dog cameback from the TV station. She was abeautiful Shepherd mix and hopped upto my lap and gave me kisses. That waslove at first sight. I saved her life andshe saved mine.”They named the new dog Syrah, a

dark flavored wine.

SEE WINERY, Page 21

A Woof’n Rose by any other name...

H BdD 5 RABBITS


So…it’s Easter time, and youwant to adopt a bunny!

- INITIAL COSTS of $100 – 200 for supplies (rab-bits grow up fast, so we do NOT recommendbuying a cheap “starter cage”) plus $100 – 400for a spay or neuter if your bunny hasn’t beenaltered?

- TAKING THE TIME to “bunny-proof” your housebefore bringing the rabbit home, to keepbunny safe and reduce the possibility of dam-age to your house and possessions?

- 10 YEARS OF DAILY CLEANUP, fresh food, waterand hay, exercise and attention, even if thefamily member who initially most wants therabbit soon loses interest?

- $20 – 100 A MONTH for litter, fresh vegetables,hay, pellets, toys, and other necessary items?

- 10 YEARS OF GROOMING and nail trims and theassociated expense if you don’t want to do ityourself?

- YEARLY TRIPS TO THE VET for well-bunnyexams, with the accompanying fees, andmore often if your rabbit becomes ill?

STILL INTERESTED? Here is an interactivewebsite you can visit to help you get started:http://www.makeminechocolate.org/learn-ing.php

REMEMBER- stuffed toys, chocolate rabbits,and baskets of colored eggs or cut flowers areperfectly appropriate gifts for the season thatdon’t need ongoing care. Bringing home a liveanimal requires a lifetime commitment to thatanimal- a big responsibility for anyone, andone that no child can make on his or her own.Parents are always the ultimate caretaker if achild loses interest in a pet, so make certainthat the adults in the family want another an-imal in the household before bringing onehome. No one wants to abuse, neglect, orabandon a pet! Be sure of a lifelong home be-fore you buy or adopt!

Happy Spring!

By Lori Albee, House Rabbit Society

RABBIT EVENTS

STORY TELLING & BUNNYTOY MAKING FOR KIDSSaturday, April 71 to 2:30 p.m.; FREERecommended for children 4 to 8 years4805 Mercury Street, Suite C, San Diego,CA 92111. For more info or to register:[email protected]

BUNNY 1O1Saturday, April 2111 a.m. to 1 p.m. 4805 Mercury Street, Suite C, San Diego,CA 92111. $15 each or $20 per family(limit 3) Thinking of getting a rabbitcompanion or just got one for Easter?Learn how to properly care for a rabbitincluding diet, housing, litter box train-ing and more. Supplies available forpurchase.

RSVP to: [email protected]

ARE YOU READY FOR:

Woof’n Rose Winery has a long his-tory of canine paw prints among thegrapevines.Visitors are sure to see dogs running

happily around the yard, welcomingthem as they sample the excellent vin-tages.Besides Syrah, one of them would be

Tawny, a Yellow Labrador. “Her fullname is Tawny Miss of Woof’n Rose,’Marilyn said. “Her name comes fromTawny Port, another wine.”Their successful rescue of dogs and

giving them a warm and unique homehas reaped benefits even they can’t de-scribe.Liberty, Champagne and Kona live on

in the rows of verdant vines ripe withthe golden pearls of sweet grapes.“One of our blends is called ‘Puppy

Love,’ while our Eglatine is a variety ofBriar Rose, grown in Europe. Its Latinname translated into English means‘Dog Rose.’”Is it pure chance that Marilyn and

Steve found their happiness among thegrapevines? Being adventurous and lov-ing the land helped but they can’t ignorehow luck in the form of canine love ledthe way.The couple plan to release a year-end

wine called ‘Happy Tails’ later this year. For more information, go to:www.woofnrose.com


H BdD 5THE TALE WAGGING THE DOG

MARK CARLSON, 51 lives in San Diegowith his wife Jane and his Guide dog Mus-ket. A docent at the San Diego Air & Space

Museum and aviation histo-rian, Mark writes for severalnational aviation maga-zines. He is a featuredspeaker for many localadult education pro-grams. His first book,‘Confessions of aGuide Dog – TheBlonde Leading theBlind’ is a humorousmemoir about the

adventures of life with Musket.It is available in through Amazon.com,

Barnesandnoble.com and iUniverse.com.You can reach Mark and Musket throughwww.musketmania.com.

WINERYCONTINUED FROM Page 19

The American Dream goes organic


Dog Beach Dog WashDo-It-Yourself•Service•Accessories4933 Voltaire St., San Diego, CA 92107(619) 523-1700 http://www.dogwash.com

Fuzzy Wolf CanineTraining AcademyCert. Trainer Program, Group & PrivatePet Parent training. (831) [email protected]

Ark Animal HospitalSmall animal veterinary hospital6171 Balboa Avenue, SD, CA 92111Open Mon–Sat • (858) 277-3665http://www.arkahsd.com

County of San Diego Department of Animal Services(619) 767-2675 • www.sddac.com

EasyTurf A Field Turf CompanyRequest a FREE DESIGN consultation2750 La Mirada Dr, Vista, CA 920811-800-550-7270www.sdpets.easyturf.com

Home Buddies by Camp Bow WowDog Walking, Pet Sitting & Dog TrainingBonded and Insured (619) 889-7767www.myhomebuddies.com/LaJolla

California Veterinary Specialists 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008,(760) 431-2273 • 7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

BUSINESS LISTINGSFour Legged LifePet event speaker Arden MooreDog/cat behavior consultsHost dog parties • (760) 433-3480www.fourleggedlife.com

Bark Avenue Resort and Kamp655 Benet Road, Oceanside, CA. 92058 (760) 433-3763 Ext. 7Email: [email protected] www.BarkForPets.com

GET LISTED! Call (619) 573-5615 for rates.

she could live a life here almost entirelybased on healthy choices for herself andthe planet — from where she shoppedto where she ate. It was only after sheadopted two rescue dogs, Nola andSweetpea, however, that she realizedthose choices were limited when itcame to the lives of her pets. “I immediately fell in love with my

two girls and wanted to provide themwith the best products possible, theway that I would for any member ofmy family,” Svet said. “I searchedeverywhere but was disappointed

when I was unable to find a qualityproduct that met my eco-friendly andhealthy choices.”But, as Svet said, “America is known

as the land of dreams,” and so shecouldn’t simply sit idly by while therewas progress to be made. “I figured that if I couldn't find the

products that I was looking for, I wouldjust create my own,” she said.And create her own she did. Svet

went to work designing a line of allnatural dog shampoo and conditionerthat eventually emerged as OrganicOscar. The products are organic andbiodegradable, and are especiallyuseful for dogs with sensitive skin. Thedesire to create something that wouldallow her dogs to live a lifestyle similarto her own was natural, she said.“People are becoming more aware of

the importance of being healthy andenvironmentally friendly, and thatlifestyle is just as important for pets,”Svet said. “As one of the few organicdog-grooming products, I like that weprovide people with a more naturaloption.”And it didn’t hurt that Svet hap-

pened to live in one of the most pet-friendly places around. San Diego,she said, has been particularly wel-coming to products like hers.“Almost any day of the year you

The American Dream goes organicB y K E N D R A H A RT M A N N | S A N D I E G O P E T S

Marie Svet might perhaps per-fectly embody the AmericanDream — at least insofar as

that dream still exists. Her story isn’tone of rags-to-riches, but she has cer-tainly achieved something many onlydream of: she built a company from theground up, simply because she wanteda particular product and couldn’t find iton the market. When Svet moved to California from

Paris in 2007, she fell in love with thehealth-conscious lifestyle that seems torule this part of the country. She realized

“I immediately fell in love

with my two girls and

wanted to provide them

with the best products possi-

ble, the way that I would for

any member of my family,”

H BdD 5PET BUSINESS


Iceland PureThe Clean Power of NatureUnscented pharmaceutical-gradesalmon oil for your pets.http://www.icelandpure.com

Leashes and LovePet Sitting and Dog Walking CompanyServing San Diego and surrounding areas(619) 296-4928www.leashesandlove.com

BUSINESS LISTINGSLu Meyer, Obedience AcademyK-9 Family Matters, Only the best will do!Trusted, Experienced, Award WinningObedience Training. (760) 436-3571www.EncinitasObedience.com

National Cat Protection SocietyA shelter whose mission is dedicatedto the protection and welfare of cats.9031 Birch St. • Spring Valley(619) 469-8771 • http://natcat.org

Leash Your FitnessFitness class for you and your DOG.Classes / events throughtout San Diego.619-822-3296http://www.LeashYourFitness.com

Project WildlifeWildlife rehabilitation and education887 1/2 Sherman Street, SD, CA 92110Wildlife Hotline 619-225-9453www.projectwildlife.org

Pet First Aid 4 UDog and cat 1st aid, CPR classesHands-on training. Earn certificate.Throughout S.D. • (760) 433-3480www.petfirstaid4u.com

Mission Animal & Bird Hospital655 Benet Road, Oceanside, CA. 92058 (760) 433-3763 Email: [email protected]

PoopPac Dog Walkers CaseBAG IT – PAC IT – TRASH IT!Enjoy your walk in styleNo Odor - No Mess - It Works!www.pooppac.com

can find dogs and pet parents at thebeach, hiking or visiting a localfarmer’s market,” she said. “San Die-gans take pride in their communityand there is something very specialabout that. We are very proud to be aSan Diego company.”As for how proud San Diego is to

be the host to Organic Oscar, Svet’sclientele can be the gauge of that. Hercustomers, she said, epitomize thatfamed Southern California lifestyle,those who, she said, “live a healthylifestyle, are outdoorsy and supportlocal companies.”“Our clients care about the values

of the company, not just the prod-

ucts,” Svet said. “Organic Oscar is anenvironmentally friendly product —biodegradable formula, recyclablebottle — cruelty-free and believes ingiving back to the community. Weare a socially responsible companyand people seem to really appreciatethat.”That appreciation, meanwhile, isn’t

lost on Svet. After all, Organic Oscarcame about because she wanted aworthwhile product for herself andher pets, not simply to make money.“We spent a lot of time creating the

perfect product,” she said, “some-thing that every dog and dog parentwould love.”

Organic Oscar’s offersOrganic Oatmeal Shampoo: Made with organic oatmeal and organic chamomile to gently cleanand soothe dry, itchy skin.

Organic Aloe Vera Shampoo:Replenishes skin with organic aloevera and organic leaf extracts.

Organic Aloe Vera Conditioner:Uses organic aloe vera and organicjojoba oils to clean deep while creating a softer and stronger coat.

Organic Oscar products are organic,all natural and biodegradable and donot contain soap, parabens, sulfates,petroleum based ingredients, artifi-cial dyes or artificial fragrances. Theproducts were created under veteri-narian supervision and are made inthe USA to adhere to and exceedhigh formulation standards.

The products are specially recom-mended for puppies, sensitive or dryskin, and frequent wash.

Emergency HospitalsBONITA/CHULA VISTAPet Emergency & SpecialtyCenter of South County (619) 591-4802885 Canarios Court, #108, Chula Vista, CA 91910 www.PESCSanDiego.com

CARLSBADCalifornia Veterinary Specialists(760) 431-2273 2310 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008, 7 days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

ENCINITASVCA North Coast Veterinary & Emergency (760) 632-1072 414 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024, www.VCANorthCoast.com

ESCONDIDOAnimal Urgent Care of Escondido (760) 738-9600 2430-A S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025, 7Days 24 hrs. www.AUC.US.com

KEARNY MESA/CLAIREMONTAnimal ER of San Diego (858) 569-06005610 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego, CA 92111 M-F 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.

LA MESAPet Emergency & Specialty Center (619) 462-4800 5232 Jackson Drive #105, La Mesa, CA 91942, 7 Days 24 hrs.www.PESCSanDiego.com

MISSION VALLEYVCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center (619) 229-2400 2317 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA92108,7 Days 24 hrs.www.VCAEmergency.com

MURRIETACalifornia Veterinary Specialists(951) 600-9803 25100 Hancock Ave. #116, Murrieta, CA 92562, 7days 24 hrs.www.CaliforniaVeterinarySpecialists.com

POWAYAnimal Emergency Clinic (858) 748-738712775 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064 M-F 6 p.m. to8 a.m. Sat. Sun. 24 hrs.www.AnimalEmergencySD.com

SAN MARCOSVeterinary Specialty Hospital(760) 466-0600 2055 Montiel Road, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069www.vshsd.com

SORRENTO VALLEYVeterinary Specialty Hospital(858) 875-750010435 Sorrento Valley Road., San Diego, CA 92121 7Days 24 hrs.www.VSHSD.com

Animal Shelters & Humane SocietiesACCEPT STRAYS & HAVE ADOPTIONBAY PARK/MISSION VALLEYCounty Animal Services5480 Gaines St., CA 92110 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

BONITACounty Animal Services5821 Sweetwater Road, CA 91902 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

CAMP PENDLETONCamp Pendleton Animal Shelter4th St. Area 25 Bldg. 25132 CA 92054 (760) 725-8120

CARLSBADCounty Animal Services2481 Palomar Airport Road, CA 92011 (619) 767-2675www.sddac.com Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm

CHULA VISTACity of Chula Vista Animal Shelter 130 Beyer Way, CA 91911 (619) 691-5123Hours: M-F 10am to 5pm Sat. 10am to 4pm

CORONADOAnimal Control Facility700 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-7371 Hours: 7 days 8:30am to 4:30am

EL CAJONCity of El Cajon Animal Shelter 1275 N. Marshall Ave., CA 92020 (619) 441-1580Hours: Tues-Sat 10am to 5:30pm

ESCONDIDOEscondido Humane Society 3450 E. Valley Parkway, CA 92027 (760) 888-2275 www.EscondidoHumaneSociety.comHours: 7 days 10am to 5pm

OCEANSIDESan Diego Humane Society-North (For dogs)2905 San Luis Rey Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm

San Diego Humane Society-North (For cats )572 Airport Road, CA 92058 (619) 299-7012www.SDHumane.org Hours: 7 days 10am-4pm

ACCEPT OWNER RELINQUISHED ANIMALSBAY PARK/MISSION VALLEYSan Diego Humane Society-San Diego Campus5500 Gaines Street, CA 92110 (619) 299-7012 www.SDHumane.org Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm Sat-Sun 11am-5pmEL CAJONFriends of Cats15587 Olde Highway 80, CA, 92021 (619) 561-0361www.FriendsofCats.org Hours: Tues-Sun 10am to 4pm

ENCINITASRancho Coastal Humane Society389 Requeza Street, CA 92024 (760) 753-6413 www.sdpets.orgHours: 11am -5pm every day except Tues. 11:30am-5pm

RANCHO SANTA FEHelen Woodward Animal Center 6461 El Apajo Road, CA 92067 (858) 756-4117 www.AnimalCenter.org Hours: 7 days 11am to 6pmSPRING VALLEYNational Cat Protection Society9031 Birch Street, CA 91977 (619) 469-8771www.NatCat.org Hours: Tue.-Sat. Noon to 5pm

H BdD 5 RESOURCE GUIDE

APRIL 2012 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com

A Passion For Paws (Akita Rescue)(818) 925-4827www.AP assionForPaws.org

Baja Dog Rescue(619) 407-9372www.bajadogrescue.org

Bat Rescuewww.batrescue.org

Boxers N Birds (all breeds rescue and adoption)Like us on Facebook. 3308 Mission Ave.Oceanside, CA 92058. (760) 433-3763 x224www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA1647.html

Cat Adoption Service(760) 550-2287www.sdcats.org

Chihuahua Rescue of San Diegowww.ChihuahuaRescueofSanDiego.com

Forgotten Paws Animal Rescuewww.forgottenpaws.org

German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue(760) 726-4813www.GSP-Rescue.org

Greyhound Connectionwww.GreyhoundConnection.org

Independent Therapy Dogs, Inc.A non-profit therapy dog organization providingtherapy dog visits for anyone who would like one.e-mail: [email protected]://sites.google.com/site/idtdinc/

It’s The PitsSpecializing in the Bully Breeds(858) 484-0985

List Srv 4 Therapy Dog TeamsA listing service/electronic bulletin [email protected]

Operation Greyhound(619) 588-6611www.OperationGreyhound.com

Paws of Coronado(619) 522-7371www.PawsOfCoronado.org

Pit Bull Rescue of San Diego(858) 693-7331www.PitBullRescueSanDiego.com

Rescue House(760) 591-1211www.rescuehouse.org

San Diego House Rabbit Society(858) 356-4286www.SanDiegoRabbits.org

S.D. Turtle & Tortoise Society(619) 593-2123www.SDTurtle.org

Second Chance Dog Rescue(619) 721-DOGS (3647)http://secondchancedogrescue.org

Westie Rescue of California(619) 579-6395www.WestieRescueCA.com

Rescue, Adoption andService Organizations

24


VetDepot Discount Pet Meds &Supplies • Save up to 60% on all leading brands including: Frontline,Cosequin, Greenies & Heartgardwww.vetdepot.com

Sophie Bella's StudioProfessional PhotographyCall Us for Your Holiday Photos858-717-6200www.sophiebellasstudio.com

Silva’s Dog TrainingTraining Puppies and Adult Dogs“From the Moment They Arrive Home!”(760) 613-3175www.silvasdogtraining.com

Star Grooming on FifthProfessional Pet Stylist1845 Fifth Ave (Between Elm & Fir)(619) 571-1795 www.stargroomingonfifth.com

TouchNpaws & MakeNscentsComfort * Wellness * MobilityServing the North County area (Mira Mesa up)(619) 405-4144 • www.TouchNpaws.com

The Total Dog, Swim & Gym3060 Industry St., Ste. 108Oceanside, CA • 760-721-1DOG (1364)www.mytotaldog.com

TTouch for dogs, cats and rabbitsBy certified practitioner Mary E. Cannon858-361-8038www.crittertouch.com

BUSINESS LISTINGSList your Business, call (619) 573-5615 for rates.

Puptown Doggie Daycare205 16th Street.San Diego, CA 92101(619) 234-5778 www.puptown.net

San Diego Humane Society & SPCA(619) 299-7012www.sdhumane.org

SD House Rabbit Society(858) 356-4286www.SanDiegoRabbits.org

Shelter Dogs To Dream DogsLearning With Love Dog TrainingAnimal Behavioral Specialist(619) 813-1252, [email protected]

Whole Dog Sports CenterDog training agility sports. All levels.6,000 sq ft indoor field. Classes available.Located in Carlsbad • (760) 931-2600 www.WholeDogSports.com

Welcome to the Dr.'s Cor-ner. I am Dr. Jason Sweitzerand I am a veterinarian atMission Animal and BirdHospital in Oceanside witha specific interest in Emer-gency Medicine, Behavior,and Exotic Animals. Thiscolumn is your chance toask a vet your questions. I’llpick topics that are the mosttimely and useful to petowners but will try to re-spond to all e-mails. Pleasesubmit your questions [email protected].

Q: I AM WORRIED THAT MY DOG MIGHT BE GETTINGFAT. WILL THAT CAUSE HIM ANY PROBLEMS AND HOWDO I KNOW WHAT HIS IDEAL WEIGHT SHOULD BE?

A:First, you have to rememberthat not all dogs are createdequal. A bulldog should not

look like a greyhound or a maltese. Thatbeing said, the best guideline may be feel-ing your dog's ribs. Ball one hand into afist and gently rub across your knuckleswith the other hand - this is too thin. Nowopen your hand flat, palm up and gentlyfeel over your knuckles on the palm side- this is too fat. Now flip your flat handover and feel the knuckles again - this isthe Goldilocks point. Now place yourhands barely touching the skin over theribs and compare. At least 25-40% areoverweight or obese. For more tips andadvice specific to your dog, please seeyour veterinarian.

Secondly, you have to consider thehealth risks of an overweight animal.Diabetes is one, but did you also knowabout the increased risk and severity ofhip dysplasia, arthritis, and even skininfections. Two hidden risks: money(feeding more food, higher doses ofmedications, and more frequent/seriousvet visits) and it shortens their life span.I am not talking about days or months, Imean years. A major study showed nearlytwo years less for labradors, and an in-creased risk of several health problems.My dog was 75 lbs. and needed painmeds twice a day for her hips. She lost 5lbs. and hasn't needed the meds for morethan 5 years.You want to tackle this but your dog

has his imprint on the couch and your catlaughs at you when you show him theleash or the treadmill. Now what? Whileexercise is great and always recom-mended, it only goes go so far. Diet andtreats have the greatest affect on weight.Your pet food probably says "AAFCO:Approved for all life stages." That meansthat a pregnant dog or a puppy of thesame weight will get enough calories andnutrition from the same food. Rememberthat pet food companies make moremoney if you feed more so they play adirty trick. The feeding guide is meant foran Olympic sprinter. My dog is supposedto get 5 cups a day but any more than 2,

and she gains weight. First try to cut outthe treats, especially any table scraps orhuman food as they can be more caloriesthan the whole meal. Second, switch to atrue measuring cup and decrease 10%every month until you start to noticeweight loss. Many vets will let you weighyour animal any time you want at nocharge so weigh them each month andhave them note it in the record. Tip: useseveral kibble from their next meal astheir treat. Slow and steady wins the race. With swimsuit and dog park seasons

nearly upon us, now is the time to getyour dog in top shape. Remember that athin and healthy dog will cost you less,have less medical problems, a betterquality of life, and live longer. Until nextmonth, stay healthy, stay active, and askyourself "Would you rather give the treator have several extra years with your dog.

APRIL 2012 | www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com/events26

April is National Pet First AidAwareness Month

Meet The Vet NightWhole Dogs Sports Center www.wholedogsports.comFirst Friday of Every Month.

Reality RallyApril 13-15, 2012www.realityrally.com, More info on page 12

Del Mar Pet ExpoApril 14-15, 2012

Parkinson’s Step by Step5K Walk/Run, April 21, 2012Liberty Station, See page 9

Walk For The AnimalsCrown Point, May 5, 2012www.sdhumane.org

Pet Day on the BayMay 12, 2012. 10:30am, 12pm & 1pmwww.hornblower.com, See page 13

M ore events and details posted online:

www.SanDiegoPetsMagazine.com/events

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

H BdD 5


MARKETPLACE

Be Your Pet’s Health Ally!

760-433-3480www.petfirstaid4u.com

Pet First Aid/CPR classes

san diego pets magazine, april 2012

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